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To explore the phenomenon of nurse–patient's illness experience.
A multicentre phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in Italy.
A convenience sample of nurses with an acute illness experience, requiring at least one hospitalisation of ≥ 3 days, was enrolled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to Giorgi's descriptive method. Ethics committee approval was obtained for this study. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research checklist guided the study reporting.
Eleven interviews were conducted from August 2022 to July 2023. The essential structure ‘being on the other side of the fence’ and six common themes, ‘role reversal’, ‘expanded awareness’, ‘professional identity’, ‘emotional swing’, ‘having experienced it on their own skin’ and ‘reframing the healthcare context’, were identified. Nurses' awareness of the healthcare system and pathways related to their professional background at the onset of their illness experience turns into an expanded awareness of the illness experience in itself, having it ‘lived on their own skin’. When nurses return from the ‘other side of the fence’ to their professional role this new awareness triggers a more compassionate and cognizant relationship with patients and colleagues.
This study highlights the lived experience of nurses who became patients, showing characterising elements of ‘being on the other side of the fence’ and the potential of this experience for expanding nurses' awareness of other patients' experiences under their care.
Nurse–patients' illness experience may be instrumental to reinforce nurses' awareness, empathy and any positive attitude or practice devised to improve patient's illness experiences and patient centred care in hospitals.
Nurses participated as interview respondents.
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